Yesterday’s decision – that firearms officers will now only be attached to armed response vehicles – was welcomed in all quarters across the country.

Highlands and Islands independent MSP John Finnie, an ex-policeman, was among the first to challenge the “standing firearms authority” issued last April.

He said: “I welcome the fact that Police Scotland have responded to legitimate public concerns about armed officers walking about our towns and villages and changed their firearms policy.

“It is a great relief that armed officers will no longer be dealing with routine police business as this was having a negative impact on community relations.”

Highland Council deputy leader David Alston had also campaigned against the routine arming of police.

He said: “Armed police should only be used when they are needed. The continuing concern I have is that this mustn’t lead to police sitting doing nothing, waiting for an incident to happen.”

Tony Nicoletti

Chief Constable Sir Stephen House

Brian Docherty, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, said: “There have been a spate of firearms incidents in Scotland recently which pose a threat to the public. The number of officers armed on a day-to-day basis is very small for the size of area we have to cover, so what was said today makes a lot of sense because we need to put the right resources to the right calls every time.”

Lib Dem justice spokeswoman Alison McInnes MSP said: “I am delighted Police Scotland made the right decision and will no longer deploy firearms officers on routine duties. This U-turn is a win for communities across Scotland alarmed by this undemocratic and fundamental change in policing approach.”

Professor Alan Miller, chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, said: “We welcome Police Scotland’s announcement that armed officers will now only be deployed to firearms incidents or where there is a threat to life. However, we remain of the view that decisions of this kind are not simply an operational matter for Police Scotland.

“Changes to policies that increase the presence of lethal weapons on Scotland’s streets should only happen with appropriate governance, scrutiny and meaningful dialogue with the public.”

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Deputy Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said: “Protecting the public and ensuring all communities have access to specialist policing, no matter where or when the need, is at the heart of this decision.

“We have balanced our overriding duty to keep people safe with consideration of the views expressed about the perception of armed officers supporting local policing activities. Having a small number of armed officers available means we can retain our operational flexibility and ensure more than 98 per cent of our officers remain unarmed but we remain best placed to support the public when the need arises.”

MacAskill said: “Armed police are a long-standing feature of policing in Scotland but it is for the chief constable to make operational decisions about where and when to deploy these resources.

“The Scottish Government welcomes the findings of the review, which Police Scotland believes balances public safety with the views of communities. Ministers have noted the commitment to deploy armed officers only to firearms incidents or cases where there is a threat to life.”